Hardware Configurable Security, Monitoring And Automation Controller Having Modular Communication Protocol Interfaces

ABSTRACT

A single platform for controller functionality for each of security, monitoring and automation, as well as providing a capacity to function as a bidirectional Internet gateway, is provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide such functionality by virtue of a configurable architecture that enables a user to adapt the system for the user&#39;s specific needs. Embodiments of the present invention further provide such functionality by providing for installation of removable, modular communication adapters for communication with a variety of devices external to the security, monitoring and automation controller.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/771,372, filed Apr. 30, 2010, entitled “Hardware ConfigurableSecurity, Monitoring and Automation Controller Having ModularCommunication Protocol Interfaces,” and which claims priority fromProvisional Patent Application No. 61/174,366, filed Apr. 30, 2009, andentitled “Remote Security Station.” The disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field ofhome security, monitoring and automation, and specifically to auser-configurable controller for security, monitoring and automation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Residential electronics and control standards provide an opportunity fora variety of options for securing, monitoring, and automatingresidences. Wireless protocols for transmission of security informationpermit placement of a multitude of security sensors throughout aresidence without a need for running wires back to a central controlpanel. Inexpensive wireless cameras also allow for placement of camerasthroughout a residence to enable easy monitoring of the residence. Avariety of home automation control protocols have also been developed toallow for centralized remote control of lights, appliances, andenvironmental apparatuses (e.g., thermostats). Traditionally, each ofthese security, monitoring and automation protocols require separateprogramming, control and monitoring stations. To the extent that homeautomation and monitoring systems have been coupled to home securitysystems, such coupling has involved including the automation andmonitoring systems as slaves to the existing home security system. Thislimits the flexibility and versatility of the automation and monitoringsystems and ties such systems to proprietary architectures.

A security system alerts occupants of a dwelling and emergencyauthorities of a violation of premises secured by the system. A typicalsecurity system includes a controller connected by wireless or wiredconnections to sensors deployed at various locations throughout thesecured dwelling. A home monitoring system provides an ability tomonitor a status of a home so that a user can be made aware of anymonitored state changes. A home automation system enables automation andremote control of lifestyle conveniences such as lighting, heating,cooling, and appliances. Typically these various lifestyle conveniencesare coupled to a controller via wireless or wired communicationsprotocols. A central device is then used to program the variouslifestyle conveniences.

Rather than having multiple devices to control each of the security,monitoring and automation environments, it is desirable to have acentralized controller capable of operating in each environment, therebyreducing the equipment needed in a dwelling. It is further desirable forsuch a combined controller and gateway to provide configurableflexibility in how devices in the various environments are monitored andcontrolled. Such flexibility includes an ability to communicate with avariety of wireless and wired remote devices through the use of easilyinstalled and configured modules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a single platformcontroller functionality for each of security, monitoring andautomation, as well as a capacity to function as a bidirectionalInternet gateway. Embodiments of the present invention provide suchfunctionality by virtue of a configurable architecture that enables auser to adapt the system for the user's specific needs. Embodiments ofthe present invention further provide such functionality by providingfor installation of removable, modular communication adapters forcommunication with a variety of devices external to the security,monitoring and automation controller.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a device that includesa bus coupled to a processor, a first communication module, removablycoupled to the bus, that can communicate with one or more securitysensors, and the processor configured to interpret an event signalreceived via the communication module from a security sensor. In oneaspect of the above embodiment, the bus is a serial peripheral interfacebus or a universal serial bus.

In another aspect of the above embodiment, a second communication moduleis also removably coupled to the bus. The second communication modulecan communicate with one or more radio frequency devices. In a furtheraspect of this embodiment, the second communication module cancommunicate with one or more home area network devices having anautomation interface. The processor can also interpret event signalsreceived from the home area network devices and generate control signalsto transmit to the home area network devices via the secondcommunication module. In another aspect of this embodiment, the secondcommunication module can communicate with a second set of securitysensors and the processor can interpret event signals received from thesecond set of security sensors. In yet another aspect of thisembodiment, the second communication module can communicate with acontroller of previously-installed security system.

In another aspect of the above embodiment, a memory stores a driver forthe first communication module. In a further aspect of this embodiment,a communication interface for communication with a remote server isconfigured to receive the driver for the first communication module. Inanother further aspect of this embodiment, a second memory (e.g., a USBmemory stick) is removably coupled to the processor to provide thedriver for the first communication module.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, asdefined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limitingdetailed description set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an architectureincluding a set of logical domains and functional entities within whichembodiments of the present invention interact.

FIG. 2A is a simplified block diagram illustrating a hardwarearchitecture of an SMA controller, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example of aphysical layout for coupling transceiver modules to an SMA controller,according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a logical stacking ofan SMA controller's firmware architecture, usable with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example user interface for an SMAcontroller 120, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed in aconfiguration process of an SMA controller, in accord with embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed inconfiguring security sensors (e.g., 510), in accord with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a display that can be provided byembodiments of the present invention to permit editing of sensorinformation (e.g., sensor zone information).

FIG. 8 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed toconfigure a home domain monitoring device, in accord with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed inselecting widgets for use by an SMA controller, in accord withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of a computer system 1010 suitable forimplementing aspects of the present invention (e.g., servers 165, portalserver 170, backup server 175, telephony server 180, and database server185).

FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting a network architecture 1100 inwhich client systems 1110, 1120 and 1130, as well as storage servers1140A and 1140B (any of which can be implemented using computer system1010), are coupled to a network 1150.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a single controllerplatform for each of security, monitoring and automation, as well asfunctioning as a bidirectional Internet gateway. Embodiments of thepresent invention provide such functionality by virtue of a configurablearchitecture that enables a user to adapt the system for the user'sspecific needs. Embodiments of the present invention further providesuch functionality by providing for installation of removable modulesfor communication with a variety of devices external to the security,monitoring and automation controller.

Architectural Overview

Embodiments of the configurable security, monitoring and automation(SMA) controller of the present invention provide not only forcommunicating with and interpreting signals from sensors and deviceswithin a dwelling, but also for accessing and monitoring those sensorsand devices from locations remote to the dwelling. Embodiments of theSMA controller provide such capability through linkages to externalservers via access networks such as the Internet, provider network, or acellular network. The external servers provide a portal environmentthrough which a user can, for example, monitor the state of sensorscoupled to the SMA controller in real-time, configure the controller,and provide controlling information to the SMA controller. The serverscan further automatically provide information to a user via remotedevices such as mobile phones, computers, and pagers. The serversfurther provide a connection to a traditional security central station,which can then contact authorities in the event of an alarm conditionbeing detected by the SMA controller in the dwelling.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an architectureincluding a set of logical domains and functional entities within whichembodiments of the present invention interact. A home domain 110includes an embodiment of the SMA controller 120. The home domain iscoupled via an access domain 150 to an operator domain 160 that includesvarious servers. The servers are in turn coupled to a central station190 and to various remote user communication options.

The home domain refers to a collection of security, monitoring andautomation entities within a dwelling or other location having SMAdevices. SMA controller 120 is a device that provides an end-user SMAinterface to the various SMA entities (e.g., radio-frequency sensors)within home domain 110. SMA controller 120 further acts as a gatewayinterface between home domain 110 and operator domain 160. SMA gateway120 provides such gateway access to operator domain 160 via a networkrouter 125. Network router 125 can be coupled to SMA controller 120 andto home network devices such as home computer 127 via either hard wiredor wireless connections (e.g., WiFi, tethered Ethernet, and power linenetwork). A network router 125 coupled to a broadband modem (e.g., acable modem or DSL modem) serves as one link to networks in accessdomain 150.

SMA devices within home domain 110 can include a variety of RF orwireless sensors 130 whose signals are received and interpreted by SMAgateway 120. RF sensors 130 can include, for example, door or windowsensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, glass break detectors,inertial detectors, water detectors, carbon dioxide detectors, and keyfob devices. SMA gateway 120 can be configured to react to a change instate of any of these detectors. In addition to acting and reacting tochanges in state of RF sensors 130, SMA controller 120 also can becoupled to a legacy security system 135. SMA controller 120 controls thelegacy security system by interpreting signals from sensors coupled tothe legacy security system and reacting in a user-configured manner. SMAgateway 120, for example, will provide alarm or sensor state informationfrom legacy security system 135 to servers in operator domain 160 thatmay ultimately inform central station 190 to take appropriate action.

SMA gateway 120 can also be coupled to one or more monitoring devices140. Monitoring devices 140 can include, for example, still and videocameras that provide images that are viewable on a screen of SMA gateway120 or a remotely connected device. Monitoring devices 140 can becoupled to SMA gateway 120 either wirelessly (e.g., WiFi via router 125)or other connections.

Home automation devices 145 (e.g., home area network devices having anautomation interface) can also be coupled to and controlled by SMAgateway 120. SMA gateway 120 can be configured to interact with avariety of home automation protocols, such as, for example, Z-Wave andZigBee.

Embodiments of SMA controller 120 can be configured to communicate witha variety of RF or wireless devices and are not limited to the RFsensors, monitoring devices and home automation devices discussed above.A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodimentsof the present invention are not limited to or by the above-discusseddevices and sensors, and can be applied to other areas and devices. Aconfigurable mechanism for communicating with the variety of RF orwireless devices, and other devices, is discussed more fully below.

Embodiments of SMA controller 120 can be used to configure and controlhome security devices (e.g., 130 and 135), monitoring devices 140 andautomation devices 145, either directly or by providing a gateway toremote control via servers in operator domain 160. SMA controller 120communicates with servers residing in operator domain 160 via networksin access domain 150. Broadband communication can be provided bycoupling SMA controller 120 with a network router 125, which in turn iscoupled to a wide area network 152, such as a provider network or theInternet, via an appropriate broadband modem. The router can be coupledto the wide area network through cable broadband, DSL, and the like.Wide area network 152, in turn, is coupled to servers in operator domain160 via an appropriate series of routers and firewalls (not shown). SMAcontroller 120 can include additional mechanisms to provide acommunication with the operator domain. For example, SMA controller 120can be configured with a cellular network transceiver that permitscommunication with a cellular network 154. In turn, cellular network 154can provide access via routers and firewalls to servers in operatordomain 160. Embodiments of SMA controller 120 are not limited toproviding gateway functionality via cellular and dwelling-based routersand modems. For example, SMA gateway 120 can be configured with othernetwork protocol controllers such as WiMAX satellite-based broadband,direct telephone coupling, and the like.

Operator domain 160 refers to a logical collection of SMA servers andother operator systems in an operator's network that provide end-userinterfaces, such as portals accessible to subscribers of the SMAservice, that can configure, manage and control SMA elements within homedomain 110. Servers in operator domain 160 can be maintained by aprovider (operator) of subscriber-based services for SMA operations.Examples of providers include cable providers, telecommunicationsproviders, and the like. A production server architecture in operatordomain 160 can support SMA systems in millions of home domains 110.

Individual server architectures can be of a variety of types, and in oneembodiment, the server architecture is a tiered Java2 Enterprise Edition(J2EE) service oriented architecture. Such a tiered service orientedarchitecture can include an interface tier, a service tier, and a dataaccess logic tier. The interface tier can provide entry points fromoutside the server processes, including, for example, browser webapplications, mobile web applications, web services, HTML, XHTML, SOAP,and the like. A service tier can provide a variety of selectablefunctionality passed along by the operator to the end user. Servicetiers can relate to end user subscription levels offered by the operator(e.g., payment tiers corresponding to “gold” level service, “silver”level service and “bronze” level service). Finally the data access logictier provides access to various sources of data including databaseservers.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example set of servers that can be provided inoperator domain 160. Servers 165 can support all non-alarm and alarmevents, heartbeat, and command traffic between the various servers andSMA controllers 120. Servers 165 can also manage end-user electronicmail and SMS notification, as well as integration with provider billing,provisioning, inventory, tech support systems, and the like.

A portal server 170 can provide various user interface applications,including, for example, a subscriber portal, a mobile portal, and amanagement portal. A subscriber portal is an end-user accessibleapplication that permits an end-user to access a corresponding SMAcontroller remotely via standard web-based applications. Using such asubscriber portal can provide access to the same SMA functions that aninterface directly coupled to the SMA controller would provide, plusadditional functions such as alert and contact management, historicaldata, widget and camera management, account management, and the like. Amobile portal can provide all or part of the access available to anend-user via the subscriber portal. A mobile portal can be limited,however, to capabilities of an accessing mobile device (e.g., touchscreen or non-touch screen cellular phones). A management portalprovides an operator representative access to support and manage SMAcontrollers in home domains 110 and corresponding user accounts via aweb-based application. The management portal can provide tiers ofmanagement support so that levels of access to user information can berestricted based on authorization of a particular employee.

Telephony server 180 can process and send information related to alarmevents received from SMA controllers 120 to alarm receivers at centralmonitoring station 190. A server 165 that processes the alarm eventmakes a request to telephony server 180 to dial the central station'sreceiver and send corresponding contact information. Telephony server180 can communicate with a plurality of central stations 190. Server 165can determine a correct central station to contact based upon useraccount settings associated with the transmitting SMA controller. Thus,alarms can be routed to different central stations based upon useraccounts. Further, accounts can be transferred from one central stationto another by modifying user account information. Telephony server 180can communicate with alarm receivers at central station 190 using, forexample, a security industry standard contact identification protocol(e.g., dual-tone multi-frequency [DTMF]) and broadband protocols.

A backup server 175 can be provided to guarantee that an alarm path isavailable in an event that one or more servers 165 become unavailable orinaccessible. A backup server 175 can be co-located to the physicallocation of servers 165 to address scenarios in which one or more of theservers fail. Alternatively, a backup server 175 can be placed in alocation remote from servers 165 in order to address situations in whicha network failure or a power failure causes one or more of servers 165to become unavailable. SMA controllers 120 can be configured to transmitalarm events to a backup server 175 if the SMA controller cannotsuccessfully send such events to servers 165.

A database server 185 provides storage of all configuration and userinformation accessible to other servers within operator domain 160.Selection of a type of database provided by database server 185 can bedependent upon a variety of criteria, including, for example,scalability and availability of data. One embodiment of the presentinvention uses database services provided by an ORACLE database.

A server 165 in operator domain 160 provides a variety of functionality.Logically, a server 165 can be divided into the following functionalmodules: a broadband communication module, a cellular communicationmodule, a notification module, a telephony communication module, and anintegration module.

The broadband communication module manages broadband connections andmessage traffic from a plurality of SMA controllers 110 coupled toserver 165. Embodiments of the present invention provide for thebroadband channel to be a primary communication channel between an SMAcontroller 120 and servers 165. The broadband communication modulehandles a variety of communication, including, for example, allnon-alarm and alarm events, broadband heartbeat, and command of trafficbetween server 165 and SMA controller 120 over the broadband channel.Embodiments of the present invention provide for an always-on persistentTCP socket connection to be maintained between each SMA controller andserver 165. A variety of protocols can be used for communicationsbetween server 165 and SMA controller 120 (e.g., XML over TCP, and thelike). Such communication can be secured using standard transport layersecurity (TLS) technologies. Through the use of an always-on socketconnection, servers 165 can provide near real-time communication betweenthe server and an SMA controller 120. For example, if a user has asubscriber portal active and a zone is tripped within home domain 110, azone fault will be reflected in near real-time on the subscriber portaluser interface.

The cellular communication module manages cellular connections andmessage traffic from SMA controllers 120 to a server 165. Embodiments ofthe present invention use the cellular channel as a backup communicationchannel to the broadband channel. Thus, if a broadband channel becomesunavailable, communication between an SMA controller and a serverswitches to the cellular channel. At this time, the cellularcommunication module on the server handles all non-alarm and alarmevents, and command traffic from an SMA controller. When a broadbandchannel is active, heartbeat messages can be sent periodically on thecellular channel in order to monitor the cellular channel. When acellular protocol communication stack is being used, a TCP socketconnection can be established between the SMA controller and server toensure reliable message delivery for critical messages (e.g., alarmevents and commands). Once critical messages have been exchanged, theTCP connection can be shut down thereby reducing cellular communicationcosts. As with broadband communication, XMPP can be the messagingprotocol used for such communications. Similarly, such communication canbe secured using TLS and SASL authentication protocols. Non-criticalmessages between an SMA controller and a server can be sent using UDP. Acompressed binary protocol can be used as a messaging protocol for suchcommunications in order to minimize cellular costs for such messagetraffic. Such messages can be secured using an encryption algorithm,such as the tiny encryption algorithm (TEA). Cellular communication canbe established over two network segments: the GSM service provider'snetwork that provides a path between an SMA controller and a cellularaccess point, and a VPN tunnel between the access point and an operatordomain data center.

A notification module of server 165 determines if and how a user shouldbe notified of events generated by their corresponding SMA controller120. A user can specify who to notify of particular events or eventtypes and how to notify the user (e.g., telephone call, electronic mail,text message, page, and the like), and this information is stored by adatabase server 185. When events such as alarm or non-alarm events arereceived by a server 165, those events can be passed asynchronously tothe notification module, which determines if, who and how to send thosenotifications based upon the user's configuration.

The telephony communication module provides communication between aserver 165 and telephony server 180. When a server 165 receives andperforms initial processing of alarm events, the telephony communicationmodule forwards those events to a telephony server 180 which in turncommunicates with a central station 190, as discussed above.

The integration module provides infrastructure and interfaces tointegrate a server 165 with operator business systems, such as, forexample, billing, provisioning, inventory, tech support, and the like.An integration module can provide a web services interface for upstreamintegration that operator business systems can call to performoperations like creating and updating accounts and querying informationstored in a database served by database server 185. An integrationmodule can also provide an event-driven framework for downstreamintegration to inform operator business systems of events within the SMAsystem.

SMA Controller Architecture

FIG. 2A is a simplified block diagram illustrating a hardwarearchitecture of an SMA controller, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. A processor 210 is coupled to a plurality ofcommunications transceivers, interface modules, memory modules, and userinterface modules. Processor 210, executing firmware discussed below,performs various tasks related to interpretation of alarm and non-alarmsignals received by SMA controller 120, interpreting reactions to thosesignals in light of configuration information either received from aserver (e.g., server 165) or entered into an interface provided by SMAcontroller 120 (e.g., a touch screen 220). Embodiments of the presentinvention can use a variety of processors, including, for example, anARM core processor such as a FREESCALE i.MX35 multimedia applicationsprocessor.

SMA controller 120 can provide for user input and display via a touchscreen 220 coupled to processor 210. Processor 210 can also provideaudio feedback to a user via use of an audio processor 225. Audioprocessor 225 can, in turn, be coupled to a speaker that provides soundin home domain 110. SMA controller 120 can be configured to provide avariety of sounds for different events detected by sensors associatedwith the SMA controller. Such sounds can be configured by a user so asto distinguish between alarm and non-alarm events.

As discussed above, an SMA controller 120 can communicate with a server165 using different network access means. Processor 210 can providebroadband access to a router (e.g., router 125) via an Ethernetbroadband connection PHY 130 or via a WiFi transceiver 235. The routercan then be coupled to or be incorporated within an appropriatebroadband modem. Cellular network connectivity can be provided by acellular transceiver 240 that is coupled to processor 210. SMAcontroller 120 can be configured with a set of rules that govern whenprocessor 210 will switch between a broadband connection and a cellularconnection to operator domain 160.

In order to locally store configuration information for SMA controller120, a memory 260 is coupled to processor 210. Additional memory can becoupled to processor 210 via, for example, a secure digital interface265. A power supply 270 is also coupled to processor 210 and to otherdevices within SMA controller 120 via, for example, a power managementcontroller module.

In order to communicate with the various sensors and devices within homedomain 110, processor 210 can be coupled to one or more fixed orremovable transceiver modules via, for example, a serial peripheralinterface such as a SPI bus 250. Such transceiver modules permitcommunication with sensors of a variety of protocols in a configurablemanner. Embodiments of the present invention can use a transceiver tocommunicate with a variety of RF sensors 130, using a variety ofcommunication protocols. Similarly, home automation transceivers (e.g.,home area network devices having an automation interface) thatcommunicate using, for example, Z-Wave or ZigBee protocols, can becoupled to processor 210 via SPI bus 250. If SMA controller 120 iscoupled to a legacy security system 135, then a module permittingcoupling to the legacy security system can be coupled to processor 210via SPI 250. Other protocols can be provided for via such plug-inmodules including, for example, digital enhanced cordlesstelecommunication devices (DECT). Through the use of a DECT module, theSMA controller can provide, for example, digital phone services throughthe coupling to access domain 150 without need for a separate DECTconnection to network router 125, or a DECT-enabled network router, forsuch services. In this manner, an SMA controller 120 can be configuredto provide for control of a variety of devices and protocols known bothtoday and in the future. In addition, processor 210 can be coupled toother types of devices (e.g., transceivers or computers) via a universalserial bus (USB) interface 255, or via another bus coupled to theprocessor (not shown).

FIG. 2B is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example of aphysical layout for coupling transceiver modules to an SMA controller,in accord with embodiments of the present invention. A housing for SMAcontroller 120 can have an access bay 275 located in the back of the SMAcontroller. Access bay 275 can have a removable cover (not shown) toprotect coupled modules. Within access bay 275 can be one or more moduleconnectors 280, coupled to a bus (e.g., SPI interface 250 and USBinterface 255) and each adapted to receive a removable transceivermodule (not shown) for communication with the bus. In this manner,transceiver modules can be easily installed and removed from the SMAcontroller. It should be noted that embodiments of the present inventionare not limited to the physical layout described in FIG. 2B forinstallable modules.

SMA controller 120 is configured to be a customer premises equipmentdevice that works in conjunction with server counterparts in operatordomain 160 in order to perform functions required for securitymonitoring and automation. Embodiments of SMA controller 120 provide atouch screen interface (e.g., 220) into all the SMA features. Via thevarious modules coupled to processor 210, the SMA controller bridges thesensor network, the control network, and security panel network tobroadband and cellular networks. SMA controller 120 further uses theprotocols discussed above to carry the alarm and activity events toservers in the operator domain for processing. These connections alsocarry configuration information, provisioning commands, management andreporting information, security authentication, and any real-time mediasuch as video or audio.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a logical stacking ofan SMA controller's firmware architecture, usable with embodiments ofthe present invention. Since SMA controller 120 provides securityfunctionality for home domain 110, the SMA controller should be a highlyavailable system. High availability suggests that the SMA controller beready to serve an end-user at all times, both when a user is interactingwith the SMA controller through a user interface and when alarms andother non-critical system events occur, regardless of whether a systemcomponent has failed. In order to provide such high availability, SMAcontroller 120 runs a micro-kernel operating system 310. An example of amicro-kernel operating system usable by embodiments of the presentinvention is a QNX real-time operating system. Under such a micro-kerneloperating system, drivers, applications, protocol stacks and filesystems run outside the operating system kernel in memory-protected userspace. Such a micro-kernel operating system can provide fault resiliencethrough features such as critical process monitoring and adaptivepartitioning. As a result, components can fail, including low-leveldrivers, and automatically restart without affecting other components orthe kernel and without requiring a reboot of the system. A criticalprocess monitoring feature can automatically restart failed componentsbecause those components function in the user space. An adaptivepartitioning feature of the micro kernel operating system providesguarantees of CPU resources for designated components, therebypreventing a component from consuming all CPU resources to the detrimentof other system components.

A core layer 320 of the firmware architecture provides service/eventlibrary and client API library components. A client API library canregister managers and drivers to handle events and to tell othermanagers or drivers to perform some action. The service/event librarymaintains lists of listeners for events that each manager or driverdetects and distributes according to one of the lists.

Driver layer 330 interacts with hardware peripherals of SMA controller120. For example, drivers can be provided for touch screen 220,broadband connection 230, WiFi transceiver 235, cellular transceiver240, USB interface 255, SD interface 265, audio processor 225, and thevarious modules coupled to processor 210 via a bus (e.g., SPI interface250). As new modules are made available for use by the SMA controller,firmware updates to the SMA controller, which will add appropriatedrivers to driver layer 330, can be provided (for example, throughdownloads from a remote server 165 or through a memory device storing afirmware update removably coupled to a bus coupled to the processor).Firmware updating to driver layer 330 permits long-term flexibility inSMA controller configuration and use. In addition, firmware associatedwith the modules themselves can be stored in module based memory.

Manager layer 340 provides business and control logic used by the otherlayers. Managers can be provided for alarm activities, securityprotocols, keypad functionality, communications functionality, audiofunctionality, and the like.

Keypad user interface layer 350 drives the touch screen user interfaceof SMA controller 120. An example of the touch screen user interfaceconsists of a header and a footer, widget icons and underlying widgetuser interfaces. Keypad user interface layer 350 drives these userinterface elements by providing, for example, management of what thesystem Arm/Disarm interface button says and battery charge information,widget icon placement in the user face area between the header andfooter, and interacting with widget engine layer 360 to displayunderlying widget user interface when a widget icon is selected.

In embodiments of the present invention, typical SMA controllerfunctions are represented in the touch screen user interface as widgets(or active icons). Widgets provide access to the various securitymonitoring and automation control functions of SMA controller 120 aswell as providing support for multi-media functionality through widgetsthat provide, for example, news, sports, weather and digital pictureframe functionality. A main user interface screen can provide a set oficons, each of which represents a widget. Selection of a widget icon canthen launch the widget. Widget engine layer 360 includes, for example,widget engines for native, HTML and FLASH-based widgets. Widget enginesare responsible for displaying particular widgets on the screen. Forexample, if a widget is developed in HTML, selection of such a widgetwill cause the HTML widget engine to display the selected widget ortouch screen 220. Information related to the various widgets is providedin widget layer 370.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example user interface for an SMAcontroller 120, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theillustrated user interface provides a set of widget icons 410 thatprovide access to functionality of SMA controller 120. As illustrated,widgets are provided to access security functionality, camera images,thermostat control, lighting control, and other settings of the SMAcontroller. Additional widgets are provided to access network-basedinformation such as weather, news, traffic, and digital picture framefunctionality. A header 420 provides access to an Arm/Disarm button 425that allows for arming the security system or disarming it. Additionalinformation can be provided in the header, such as, for example, networkstatus messages. A footer 430 can provide additional status informationsuch as time and date, as displayed.

A user can select widgets corresponding to desired functionality.Embodiments of the present invention provide for access to widgets viaportal server 170. A provider of operator domain 160 can determinefunctionality accessible to users, either for all users or based upontiers of users (e.g., subscription levels associated with paymentlevels). A user can then select from the set of accessible widgets andthe selected widgets will be distributed and displayed on the userinterface of SMA controller 120. Configurability of SMA controller 120is also driven by user determined actions and reactions to sensorstimulus.

SMA Controller Configurability

In accord with embodiments of the present invention, SMA controller 120can be configured by a user in order to provide desired functionality inhome domain 110. In addition to the hardware configurable optionsdiscussed above (e.g., modules coupled to SPI interface 250), SMAcontroller 120 provides for additional configuration through the use ofsoftware and/or firmware. For example, SMA controller 120 can beconfigured to receive signals from a variety of security sensors (e.g.,RF sensors 130) and to associate those sensors with the physicalenvironment of home domain 110. In addition, SMA controller 120 can beconfigured to receive still and video information from one or morecameras, provide a variety of programs and utilities to a user, and isconfigurable to communicate with a variety of home automation devices.

FIG. 5 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating one example of stepsperformed in a configuration process of an SMA controller, in accordwith embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of an SMAcontroller will typically be configured with security sensorinformation, either from RF sensors 130 or from a legacy security system135. Therefore, an SMA controller will be configured to access andinterpret information related to those security sensors (510).

A determination can then be made as to whether or not a user isincluding security cameras in home domain 110 (520). If cameras areincluded in the home domain, then a series of steps related to cameraconfiguration is performed (530). Similarly, a determination can be madeas to whether or not home automation devices are to be controlled by theSMA controller (540). If so, then a series of steps can be performed toconfigure the SMA controller to access those home automation devices(550).

A user can then perform steps necessary to configuring widgetsaccessible via the SMA controller (560). As discussed above, the usermay access a portal server (e.g., 170) to select and configure thosewidgets that are desirable to be accessed at SMA controller 120. Oncethese configuration steps are performed, the SMA controller can be madeavailable to perform tasks related to securing, monitoring, andproviding automation control to home domain 110.

SMA controller 120 can be configured to receive and interpret signalsfrom a variety of security sensors. Such sensors can include, forexample, door/window sensors that can detect opening and closing of adoor or window, motion detectors that can detect movement in an area ofinterest, smoke detectors, glass break detectors, inertia detectors, andkey fobs. In order to usefully interpret signals from such detectors,embodiments of SMA controller 120 can search for signals from suchsensors and be configured with information related to the location andtasks of those sensors. Signal searching can be performed using bothfixed and coupled removable transceivers (e.g., coupled to SPI bus 250).

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed inconfiguring security sensors (e.g., 510), in accord with embodiments ofthe present invention. A user of a security system incorporating SMAcontroller 120 (e.g., an owner or resident of home domain 110) candecide, based upon the needs within the home domain, the types andnumber of security sensors needed to secure the home domain. SMAcontroller 120, via a touch screen input device, for example, can betold how many such sensors to search for (610). The SMA controller canthen search for all activated sensors providing a linking message to theSMA controller (620). Such a linking message can provide sensorinformation including, for example, a unique identification number forthe sensor and sensor type information. A touch screen interface for SMAcontroller 120 can then provide to the user a display indicatinginformation related to all sensors found during the search (630).

Once presented with information related to all the located sensors, auser can then edit that information to provide specifics as to physical,or zone, location of the sensor within the home domain and othercharacteristics related to the zone of the sensor (640). For example, atouch screen display 220 coupled to SMA controller 120 can provide alist of all located sensors from which the user can select a specificsensor to define or edit information related to that sensor. Theinformation related to the sensors and zones is then stored in a localmemory of the SMA controller 120 (e.g., memory 260) (650). The SMAcontroller can also transmit the sensor zone information to be stored ina server in operator domain 160 via an available broadband connection(660).

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a display that can be provided byembodiments of the present invention to permit editing of sensorinformation (e.g., sensor zone information). As illustrated, the displaycan provide information such as a unique identifier of the sensor(serial number 710) and the sensor type (sensor type 720). As indicatedabove, unique identifier and sensor type information is provided by thesensor during the search and location process. Through a display such asthat illustrated in FIG. 7, a user performing the activation can defineadditional zone characteristics related to the sensor. For example, auser can define or select a zone name 730 to associate with the sensor.Such a zone name can be entered, for example, by the user through use ofa touch screen-based keyboard or selected from a list of common namesdisplayed on the touch screen.

A zone function 740 can also be provided to be associated with thesensor. A zone function determines behavior of the zone and is dependenton the zone type. For example, a door/window sensor can function as anentry/exit zone or as a perimeter zone. Each zone type can have one ormore configurable zone functions. For example, a motion detector canhave a zone function of interior follower, a smoke/heat detector canhave a zone function of 24-hour fire monitoring, a glass break detectorcan have a zone function of a perimeter zone, and an inertia detectorcan have an entry/exit zone function or a perimeter zone function.

Selection of a zone function definition can alter how the securitysystem acts and reacts to signals received from a sensor in that zone.The following table illustrates examples of zone functions and theirassociated action/reaction definitions, according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

TABLE 1 Zone Function Definition Entry/Exit Allow exiting the homedomain when the system is arming and will begin an entry delay whenopened if the system is armed. Zone can be bypassed and can havespecific tones assigned for open and close events. Perimeter Generate analarm immediately if tripped while the system is armed. Can be bypassedand can have specific tones assigned for open and close events. InteriorProtect the internal spaces of the home domain and trigger Follower animmediate alarm if the system is armed in away mode. Zone is not armedwhen the system is in armed stay mode. Can be bypassed and can havespecific activity/non activity tones assigned. 24-Hour Generate animmediate fire alarm if triggered. Fire Zone cannot be bypassed. 24-HourGenerate notifications in the home and will beep the keypad Monitor butwill not sound the full alarm. Can be bypassed. 24-Hour Generatesnotifications, beeps keypads, and sounds the Environ- siren to letpeople within the home domain know to mental evacuate the premises.Cannot be bypassed. 24-Hour Will never generate an alarm, even if thesystem is armed. Inform Upon triggering of the sensor will make theconfigured sound and send events to the operator domain. Can bebypassed.

By defining such zones, a user can control how the security functions ofSMA controller 120 react to various sensor triggers.

A user can also configure a display icon 750 associated with the sensorzone. In many cases, the available icons will be limited to one type oficon that graphically relates to the sensor type. But, for example, witha door/window sensor, icons can be made available that illustrate a dooror a window as appropriate. FIG. 7 further illustrates a signal strengthbutton 760 that, when selected, can display strength of the signalbetween the wireless hub or module located within SMA controller 120 andthe associated sensor.

The sensor zone information entered through the use of a display such asthat illustrated in FIG. 7, can be stored in local data tables that arestored in memory 260 of SMA controller 120 (650). In addition, sensorzone information can also be transmitted via access domain 150 toservers in operator domain 160 for storage (e.g., database server 185)(660). By storing the sensor zone information in servers in the operatordomain, the information is available to a user accessing a portal server170 (e.g., for monitoring of sensor events). A user could then edit thesensor zone information through use of the portal rather than the SMAcontroller interface. Further, sensor zone information stored ondatabase server 185 is retained even if an SMA controller suffers froman event that makes the SMA controller unusable. In such an event, a newSMA controller can be installed in home domain 110 and the informationstored in operator domain 160 can be provided to the new SMA controller.This eliminates a need to manually reconfigure the new SMA controllerwith all sensor information.

FIG. 8 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed toconfigure a home domain monitoring device, in accord with embodiments ofthe present invention. As discussed above, SMA controller 120 cancommunicate with home domain monitoring devices 140, such as cameras andaudio monitors. For example, a wireless camera can be activated and cancommunicate with SMA controller 120 via a router 125. Duringconfiguration, the SMA controller can detect the presence of a camera byreceiving an MAC address of the camera from the router (810). The SMAcontroller can then configure the camera to communicate wirelessly withthe router and the SMA controller (820). The SMA controller can pass avariety of information to the camera during a configuration phase,including, for example, an administrative user name and password, cameraname, camera description, time zone, current time, language, usersession name and password for list of users allowed to access thecamera, network settings such as IP address and name servers, protocolsettings, motion detection settings, and desired camera image settingssuch as resolution and video adjustments. In addition, the camera canprovide information to the SMA controller for storage, such as, forexample, device type, manufacturer, model number, and other controlinformation.

Once the SMA controller and camera are configured, then images generatedby the camera can be displayed on a display device associated with SMAcontroller 120 (830) or can be communicated to a portal server inoperator domain 160 via a network in access domain 150 for display on acomputer or mobile devices communicating with the portal server (840).SMA controller 120 can also store information related to the camera,such as, for example, a camera name, location of the camera, andrelationship of the camera with a defined sensor zone. Embodiments ofthe present invention can provide both still and video images either onthe SMA controller display or a portal display. An SMA controller can beconfigured to communicate with more than one monitoring device.

SMA controller 120 also has a capability of providing access to avariety of functionality through the use of widget programs. FIG. 4,discussed above, illustrates an example of a home screen display of SMAcontroller 120, showing a set of icons having associated widget programs(410). Some of the widgets provide for SMA controller functionality,such as, for example, security access, camera monitoring, and settingmodification. Additionally, widgets can be provided to access SMAcontroller automation functionality such as thermostat control andlighting control. In addition, an SMA controller can provide display ofuser-selectable widgets (e.g., calendar, weather, news, traffic, andphotos).

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating steps performed inselecting widgets for use by an SMA controller, in accord withembodiments of the present invention. A user can select those userselectable widget programs that are desired by accessing a portal server170 (910). The user can view those widget programs that are available tothe user and select those that the user wishes to install on the SMAcontroller (920). A user can also configure how the widget icons aredisplayed on the home screen (e.g., position of each icon) as well asprovide any individual widget configuration information (e.g., zip codeinformation for weather and traffic widgets) (930). Depending upon thepurpose of a widget, a user may have a variety of options in configuringthat widget.

By making widgets available on a portal server in the operator domain,the operator can control the nature and types of widgets available to auser. For example, an operator can define a series of option tiers fortheir users, with each tier having increasing numbers of availablewidgets or different type of widget functionality. Further, by makingthe widgets available through the portal, an operator can control thequality of the available widgets and ensuring that widgets will notaffect the operability of SMA controller under the operator's control.

Once selected, code related to the widgets and widget setup informationis transferred from servers in operator domain 160 to the associated SMAcontroller 120 in home domain 110 (940). That code information is storedin SMA controller 120, for example, in memory 260.

SMA controller 120 can also be configured to provide home automationfunctionality. As discussed above, a variety of hardware modules can becoupled to the SMA controller, allowing the SMA controller tocommunicate using protocols associated with those modules. In additionto the hardware configurability, SMA controller 120 is configured tocommunicate with a variety of devices selected to be controlled by theSMA controller. In a manner similar to that discussed above with regardto configuration of security sensors, SMA controller 120 is configuredto detect available automated devices and display information regardingthose devices. A user can then edit information about those devices andbehavior of those devices through, for example, a touch screen interfacecoupled to SMA controller 120. In addition, a user can provideautomation commands via accessing portal server 170 to modify thosesettings, or take immediate control of an automated device. Similarly, auser can take immediate control of automated devices from the touchscreen of the SMA controller (e.g., through use of widgets such as“lights” and “thermostat,” illustrated in FIG. 4). Configurationinformation related to the automated devices can be stored in a memoryof SMA controller 120 or in a server located in operator domain 160.

In this manner, embodiments of the present invention provideconfigurable control over a variety of SMA devices in the home domainusing a single controller. A variety of different device protocols canbe provided for through the use of plug-in modules. Further flexibilityis provided through configurable set up and control of security andautomation devices. Additional functionality is provided through the useof user-selectable and user-configurable widgets.

An Example Computing and Network Environment

As shown above, the present invention can be implemented using a varietyof computer systems and networks. An example of one such computing andnetwork environment is described below with reference to FIGS. 10 and11.

FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of a computer system 1010 suitable forimplementing aspects of the present invention (e.g., servers 165, portalserver 170, backup server 175, telephony server 180, and database server185). Computer system 1010 includes a bus 1012 which interconnects majorsubsystems of computer system 1010, such as a central processor 1014, asystem memory 1017 (typically RAM, but which may also include ROM, flashRAM, or the like), an input/output controller 1018, an external audiodevice, such as a speaker system 1020 via an audio output interface1022, an external device, such as a display screen 1024 via displayadapter 1026, serial ports 1028 and 1030, a keyboard 1032 (interfacedwith a keyboard controller 1033), a storage interface 1034, a floppydisk drive 1037 operative to receive a floppy disk 1038, a host busadapter (HBA) interface card 1035A operative to connect with a FibreChannel network 1090, a host bus adapter (HBA) interface card 1035Boperative to connect to a SCSI bus 1039, and an optical disk drive 1040operative to receive an optical disk 1042. Also included are a mouse1046 (or other point-and-click device, coupled to bus 1012 via serialport 1028), a modem 1047 (coupled to bus 1012 via serial port 1030), anda network interface 1048 (coupled directly to bus 1012).

Bus 1012 allows data communication between central processor 1014 andsystem memory 1017, which may include read-only memory (ROM) or flashmemory (neither shown), and random access memory (RAM) (not shown), aspreviously noted. The RAM is generally the main memory into which theoperating system and application programs are loaded. The ROM or flashmemory can contain, among other code, the Basic Input-Output system(BIOS) which controls basic hardware operation such as the interactionwith peripheral components. Applications resident with computer system1010 are generally stored on and accessed via a computer-readablemedium, such as a hard disk drive (e.g., fixed disk 1044), an opticaldrive (e.g., optical drive 1040), a floppy disk unit 1037, or otherstorage medium. Additionally, applications can be in the form ofelectronic signals modulated in accordance with the application and datacommunication technology when accessed via network modem 1047 orinterface 1048.

Storage interface 1034, as with the other storage interfaces of computersystem 1010, can connect to a standard computer-readable medium forstorage and/or retrieval of information, such as a fixed disk drive1044. Fixed disk drive 1044 may be a part of computer system 1010 or maybe separate and accessed through other interface systems. Modem 1047 mayprovide a direct connection to a remote server via a telephone link orto the Internet via an Internet service provider (ISP). Networkinterface 1048 may provide a direct connection to a remote server via adirect network link to the Internet via a POP (point of presence).Network interface 1048 may provide such connection using wirelesstechniques, including digital cellular telephone connection, CellularDigital Packet Data (CDPD) connection, digital satellite data connectionor the like.

Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be connected in asimilar manner (e.g., document scanners, digital cameras and so on).Conversely, all of the devices shown in FIG. 10 need not be present topractice the present invention. The devices and subsystems can beinterconnected in different ways from that shown in FIG. 10. Theoperation of a computer system such as that shown in FIG. 10 is readilyknown in the art and is not discussed in detail in this application.Code to implement the present invention can be stored incomputer-readable storage media such as one or more of system memory1017, fixed disk 1044, optical disk 1042, or floppy disk 1038. Theoperating system provided on computer system 1010 may be MS-DOS®,MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, Linux®, or another known operating system.

Moreover, regarding the signals described herein, those skilled in theart will recognize that a signal can be directly transmitted from afirst block to a second block, or a signal can be modified (e.g.,amplified, attenuated, delayed, latched, buffered, inverted, filtered,or otherwise modified) between the blocks. Although the signals of theabove described embodiment are characterized as transmitted from oneblock to the next, other embodiments of the present invention mayinclude modified signals in place of such directly transmitted signalsas long as the informational and/or functional aspect of the signal istransmitted between blocks. To some extent, a signal input at a secondblock can be conceptualized as a second signal derived from a firstsignal output from a first block due to physical limitations of thecircuitry involved (e.g., there will inevitably be some attenuation anddelay). Therefore, as used herein, a second signal derived from a firstsignal includes the first signal or any modifications to the firstsignal, whether due to circuit limitations or due to passage throughother circuit elements which do not change the informational and/orfinal functional aspect of the first signal.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting a network architecture 1100 inwhich client systems 1110, 1120 and 1130, as well as storage servers1140A and 1140B (any of which can be implemented using computer system1010), are coupled to a network 1150. Storage server 1140A is furtherdepicted as having storage devices 1160A(1)-(N) directly attached, andstorage server 1140B is depicted with storage devices 1160B(1)-(N)directly attached. Storage servers 1140A and 1140B are also connected toa SAN fabric 1170, although connection to a storage area network is notrequired for operation of the invention. SAN fabric 1170 supports accessto storage devices 1180(1)-(N) by storage servers 1140A and 1140B, andso by client systems 1110, 1120 and 1130 via network 1150. Intelligentstorage array 1190 is also shown as an example of a specific storagedevice accessible via SAN fabric 1170.

With reference to computer system 1010, modem 1047, network interface1048 or some other method can be used to provide connectivity from eachof client computer systems 1110, 1120 and 1130 to network 1150. Clientsystems 1110, 1120 and 1130 are able to access information on storageserver 1140A or 1140B using, for example, a web browser or other clientsoftware (not shown). Such a client allows client systems 1110, 1120 and1130 to access data hosted by storage server 1140A or 1140B or one ofstorage devices 1160A(1)-(N), 1160B(1)-(N), 1180(1)-(N) or intelligentstorage array 1190. FIG. 11 depicts the use of a network such as theInternet for exchanging data, but the present invention is not limitedto the Internet or any particular network-based environment.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is well adapted to attain the advantages mentionedas well as others inherent therein. While the present invention has beendepicted, described, and is defined by reference to particularembodiments of the invention, such references do not imply a limitationon the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. Theinvention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, andequivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarilyskilled in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described embodimentsare examples only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention.

The foregoing describes embodiments including components containedwithin other components (e.g., the various elements shown as componentsof computer system 1010). Such architectures are merely examples, and,in fact, many other architectures can be implemented which achieve thesame functionality. In an abstract but still definite sense, anyarrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe present invention via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, andexamples. It will be understood by those within the art that each blockdiagram component, flowchart step, operation and/or componentillustrated by the use of examples can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orany combination thereof For example, specific electronic components canbe employed in an application specific integrated circuit or similar orrelated circuitry for implementing the functions associated with one ormore of the described functional blocks.

The present invention has been described in the context of fullyfunctional computer systems; however, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the present invention is capable of being distributed asa program product in a variety of forms, and that the present inventionapplies equally regardless of the particular type of computer-readablemedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples ofcomputer-readable media include computer-readable storage media, as wellas media storage and distribution systems developed in the future.

The above-discussed embodiments can be implemented by software modulesthat perform one or more tasks associated with the embodiments. Thesoftware modules discussed herein may include script, batch, or otherexecutable files. The software modules may be stored on amachine-readable or computer-readable storage media such as magneticfloppy disks, hard disks, semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, andflash-type media), optical discs (e.g., CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and DVDs), orother types of memory modules. A storage device used for storingfirmware or hardware modules in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention can also include a semiconductor-based memory, which may bepermanently, removably or remotely coupled to a microprocessor/memorysystem. Thus, the modules can be stored within a computer system memoryto configure the computer system to perform the functions of the module.Other new and various types of computer-readable storage media may beused to store the modules discussed herein.

The above description is intended to be illustrative of the inventionand should not be taken to be limiting. Other embodiments within thescope of the present invention are possible. Those skilled in the artwill readily implement the steps necessary to provide the structures andthe methods disclosed herein, and will understand that the processparameters and sequence of steps are given by way of example only andcan be varied to achieve the desired structure as well as modificationsthat are within the scope of the invention. Variations and modificationsof the embodiments disclosed herein can be made based on the descriptionset forth herein, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in allrespects.

What is claimed:
 1. A method comprising: determining, by a computingdevice associated with a premises management system located at apremises, one or more premises devices of the premises managementsystem; causing output, by the computing device, of an indication of apremises device of the one or more premises devices; receiving, by thecomputing device, user input that indicates a zone function associatedwith the premises device; and causing, based on premises device datareceived from the premises device, execution of one or more operationsassociated with the zone function.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein:the causing output of the indication of the premises device comprisescausing output, via a computing device associated with a user of thepremises management system, of the indication of the premises device,and the receiving the user input comprises receiving, via the computingdevice associated with the user of the premises management system, theuser input.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the causing output of theindication of the premises device comprises causing output, via atouchscreen device associated with the premises management system, ofthe indication of the premises device, and the receiving the user inputcomprises receiving, via the touchscreen device, the user input.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein at least one of the premises device or thecomputing device is configured to execute the one or more operations. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the causing execution of the one or moreoperations is further based on a device type of the premises device, azone associated with the premises device, and a zone type of the zone.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the one or morepremises devices comprises receiving one or more messages transmitted byrespective premises devices of the one or more premises devices, whereina message indicates configuration information associated with therespective premises device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the zonefunction comprises at least one of an entry/exit function, a perimeterfunction, an interior follower function, a 24-hour fire function, a24-hour monitor function, a 24-hour environmental function, or a 24-hourinform function.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moreoperations comprise at least one of initializing an entry delay,generating an in-premises notification message, generating a motiondetection alarm, generating a fire alarm, generating a glass breakalarm, generating a smoke/heat detection alarm, generating an inertiadetection alarm, causing a sound notification at the premises, orgenerating one or more messages to a server based on the premises devicedata.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone function comprises aperimeter zone function and the one or more operations comprise soundingan alarm immediately responsive to receiving the premises device datafrom the premises device.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the zonefunction comprises an entry/exit zone function and the one or moreoperations comprise at least one of: initializing, based on the premisesdevice data indicating an entry/exit open event, an entry delay timer,causing output, based on the premises device data indicating anentry/exit open event, of a first audio tone, or causing output, basedon the premises device data indicating an entry/exit close event, of asecond audio tone, different from the first audio tone.
 11. The methodof claim 1, wherein the zone function comprises an environmental zonefunction and the one or more operations comprise at least one of:generating a notification message that indicates the premises devicedata, causing output, at a keypad device associated with the premisesmanagement system, of an audio tone, or causing output of an alarmsiren.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone function comprises amonitoring zone function and the one or more operations comprise atleast one of: generating a notification message that indicates thepremises device data, or causing output, at a keypad device associatedwith the premises management system, of an audio tone.
 13. Acomputer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by oneor more processors, cause: determining, by a computing device associatedwith a premises management system located at a premises, one or morepremises devices of the premises management system; causing output, bythe computing device, of an indication of a premises device of the oneor more premises devices; receiving, by the computing device, user inputthat indicates a zone function associated with the premises device; andcausing, based on premises device data received from the premisesdevice, execution of one or more operations associated with the zonefunction.
 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein: thecausing output of the indication of the premises device comprisescausing output, via a computing device associated with a user of thepremises management system, of the indication of the premises device,and the receiving the user input comprises receiving, via the computingdevice associated with the user of the premises management system, theuser input.
 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein: thecausing output of the indication of the premises device comprisescausing output, via a touchscreen device associated with the premisesmanagement system, of the indication of the premises device, and thereceiving the user input comprises receiving, via the touchscreendevice, the user input.
 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13,wherein the determining the one or more premises devices comprisesreceiving one or more messages transmitted by respective premisesdevices of the one or more premises devices, wherein a message indicatesconfiguration information associated with the respective premisesdevice.
 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein thecausing execution of the one or more operations is further based on adevice type of the premises device, a zone associated with the premisesdevice, and a zone type of the zone.
 18. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 13, wherein: the zone function comprises at least one of anentry/exit function, a perimeter function, an interior followerfunction, a 24-hour fire function, a 24-hour monitor function, a 24-hourenvironmental function, or a 24-hour inform function, and the one ormore operations comprise at least one of initializing an entry delay,generating an in-premises notification message, generating a motiondetection alarm, generating a fire alarm, generating a glass breakalarm, generating a smoke/heat detection alarm, generating an inertiadetection alarm, causing a sound notification at the premises, orgenerating one or more messages to a server based on the premises devicedata.
 19. A device comprising: one or more processors; and memorystoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to: determine one or more premises devices of apremises management system located at a premises; cause output of anindication of a premises device of the one or more premises devices;receive user input that indicates a zone function associated with thepremises device; and cause, based on premises device data received fromthe premises device, execution of one or more operations associated withthe zone function.
 20. The device of claim 19, further comprising atouchscreen, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the device to: cause output, via thetouchscreen, of the indication of the premises device; and receive, viathe touchscreen, the user input.
 21. The device of claim 19, wherein thecausing execution of the one or more operations is further based on adevice type of the premises device, a zone associated with the premisesdevice, and a zone type of the zone.
 22. The device of claim 19, whereinthe determining the one or more premises devices comprises receiving oneor more messages transmitted by respective premises devices of the oneor more premises devices, wherein a message indicates configurationinformation associated with the respective premises device.
 23. Thedevice of claim 19, wherein: the zone function comprises at least one ofan entry/exit function, a perimeter function, an interior followerfunction, a 24-hour fire function, a 24-hour monitor function, a 24-hourenvironmental function, or a 24-hour inform function, and the one ormore operations comprise at least one of initializing an entry delay,generating an in-premises notification message, generating a motiondetection alarm, generating a fire alarm, generating a glass breakalarm, generating a smoke/heat detection alarm, generating an inertiadetection alarm, causing a sound notification at the premises, orgenerating one or more messages to a server based on the premises devicedata.